As a vocalist, I try to surround myself with many styles of music, songs and musicians.
Because I have history in musical theater, Broadway tunes are a big part of my life, but you wouldn't find these songs on my iPod unless I was auditioning for a part. What you would find is a diversified song list that includes jazz, Latin, contemporary R&B and rock.
This past year has been a whirlwind for me as far as music goes. I have made new and wonderful friends that have introduced me to wonderful new artists.
But I still have kept many of my old favorites. One of these is Heart. Heart is a rock band whose founding members came from Seattle, Wash.
The band has gone through several lineup changes and the only constant members of the group are sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson.
Ann had a stuttering problem as a child, which is why she turned to music rather than another profession.
Heart rose to fame in the 1970s with its music being influenced by hard rock as well as folk music.
My favorite songs by Heart are "Alone" and "Crazy on You." Heart's version of "Alone" is a power ballad that begins with a piano line and a subdued vocal from Ann Wilson, only to build to a dramatic love song. I would love to have the opportunity to sing this song onstage some day.
"Crazy on You" starts with an acoustic guitar intro and then turns into fast-paced hard rock that was the signature sound of the band in its early years. This song paired an electric guitar and an acoustic female guitarist, which was a rarity in rock music during that time. The lyrics of "Crazy on You" tell of a person's desire to forget all the problems of the world during one night of passion. Ann revealed the song was written in response to stress caused by the Vietnam War and social unrest in the United States in the early '70s.
You will find Nora Jones on my iPod because I find her vocals to be amazing. Jones is the daughter of an Indian sitar player and a concert producer. At the age of 16, she officially changed her name from Geethali Shankar to Norah Jones. Her songs are a blend of jazz and traditional vocal pop with a hint of bluesy country and contemporary folk. She has a vocal style that is mellow, relaxed and laid back.
"I'm not melancholy; I'm a happy-go-lucky person, kind of silly. I like funny things. I have a lot of energy. I tend to like music that's mellow, though," Jones said. That quote could describe me. I am so much like her, as I tend to gravitate to music that is mellower and I am a happy-go-lucky person who loves to have fun.
Well, OK, The Ocean was not mellow but I am constantly broadening my horizons! I find listening to Jones' music puts me in a happy place surrounded by happy people.
I am excited when I listen to a song that portrays deep emotion and a singer that is able to communicate that emotion to the audience. It is a singer's job to make the audience feel the song. If I would give you my iPod to listen to, you will find that each song on there in some way is a reflection of my own personality on any given day.
